The Ryman Division One South side were treated to a heroes' welcome when they faced namesakes Paulista in Sao Paulo, 100 years after they were supposed to play before the outbreak of the First World War.

The Brazilian giants were formed after a tour of the area by Corinthians FC in 1910, which inspired the locals to form their own football team.

This tribute match was played in front of 37,000 fans at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, and the Casuals produced a determined performance, holding their hosts to 0-0 for more than an hour.

Casuals top scorer Jamie Byatt had a goal disallowed for offside, before a deflected Danilo strike and two from Luciano in the final 15 minutes secured a comfortable 3-0 victory for the hosts.

"It is impossible to really put into words what we experienced, but in front of such a crowd on such an occasion, you have to stand back and try to take it all in," beamed Casuals boss Matt Howard.

"There must have been over 1,000 locals there just to see us train. You won't find many players excited about the prospect of training, but this trip was always going to be a little different."

In the summer of 1914, Exeter City, then members of the Southern League, travelled to Argentina to play a series of games and help spread the word of football in South America.

On their way back the team stopped in Rio de Janeiro to play three friendlies, the last of which against a team combining the best players from Rio and Sao Paulo. And thus, the Brazilian national side was born.

Approximately 10,000 people watched the game, which the Brazilians won 2-0. According to local reports: "The spectators went wild, waving hats and walking sticks, and in the stands ladies and young girls waved handkerchiefs, shouting hurrahs."

The press slammed Exeter's physicality, and the game was almost abandoned after four players left the pitch in disgust. "Realising their match fee might be affected, they returned," chuckled Brazilian player Lagreca.

3) Real Madrid 2-4 Nelson, May 1923

Who was the first English team to defeat Real Madrid on home soil? Manchester United? Liverpool?

Not quite. It's Lancashire non-leaguers Nelson, currently of the North West Counties Football League.

Before the 1923/24 campaign, after gaining promotion to Division Two, the club set off on a tour of Spain to face Los Blancos, Racing Santander and Real Oviedo. And, thanks to Dick Crawshaw's brace, the unassuming Englishmen romped to a 4-2 victory at the Campo de Ciudad Lineal.

It wasn't a sign of things to come: Nelson finished 21st in the Second Division and were relegated.